5 Ways a Professional Mentor Prepares You for Success

February 28, 2018

When you take on a new professional opportunity, it’s beneficial to have a mentor that is rooting for you to succeed and can guide you as you enter a new industry. At Farm Bureau Financial Services, all of our new agents are paired with a built-in mentor - our Agency Managers. Discover the benefits of having a mentor, like an Agency Manager, and how they can help you grow professionally.

How to Choose a Professional Mentor

When starting a new position and selecting a mentor, it’s important to have a clear idea of what you hope to gain from the relationship. Before getting started, set goals for yourself, and decide what you want to achieve in the near future. A mentor who has already accomplished these aspirations or similar ones would be a perfect fit because they can relate to your situation and pass along lessons they’ve learned from their experiences.

From the beginning, both you and your professional mentor should be upfront about what you expect. If you need someone who’s hands-on or more laid back, that’s something that should be discussed. As a Farm Bureau insurance agent, your Agency Manager will be someone you can meet with regularly to discuss updates in the company and the industry, and they’ll be there to help you through new or challenging situations.

Ways A Mentor Can Give You A Professional Advantage

Starting out on a new professional venture is exciting and a challenge, so it’s important to find a professional mentor who can guide you through the change. If you ever need advice, they’re by your side and ready to help! Here are a few ways your professional life will benefit from having a mentor.

#1: Mentors Offer Expert Advice

As you start a new opportunity, you’ve probably gone through quite a bit of training. However, there’s always more to learn when you join a new industry. Your professional mentor, being experienced in the industry, will be able to offer you advice as you get started to help you hit the ground running. At Farm Bureau Financial Services, when you become an insurance agent, your Agency Manager will help you transition into your new role by giving advice on how to utilize all the information you’ve been given and will also be your support system when you have questions.

#2: Professional Mentors Help You Grow Your Skills

Mentors are with you every step of the way to help you find success. Even if you’ve been in the industry for a few years, your mentor can help you get to the next level. Whether that’s to become a leader at the company or to manage your own team, your mentor can help point out the steps you need to take to get there.

Agency managers will be at each client meeting when you’re getting started to assist while you learn the necessary leadership skills and gain experience. As you become more comfortable, you can start to meet with clients independently and take on more responsibility on your own.

#3: A Mentor Knows Which Skills You Need to Improve

Your professional mentor knows the areas you can work on to continue to advance professionally. From communication to public speaking, they offer an honest opinion you can trust when you’re looking for areas in which you can improve. At Farm Bureau Financial Services, this is how our Agency Managers help new agents grow their businesses. They’ll customize their approach to each new agent and work to help you become a successful Farm Bureau agent with a wide variety of skills.

#4: Managers Stay Up-to-Date and Share the Latest Industry Trends

Your mentor will help you stay current with the latest trends in your industry. Part of a professional mentor’s job is to stay in-the-know and provide an inside perspective about challenges you may face. Feedback and knowledge of the insurance industry from Agency Managers are tools new agents will want to utilize.

#5: Mentors Are Passionate About Helping You Succeed

The main goal of a professional mentor is to help you succeed and get to the next level. After all, they were in your shoes and just starting out not long ago. They’ll provide you with encouragement, advice and the resources you need to build a strong profession. They can also help you make connections in the community and within your organization.

At Farm Bureau, not only will you have an Agency Manager that acts as a professional mentor, but you’ll have a whole support system you can count on. We offer marketing support and additional education and training to keep our insurance agents at the top of their game.

Building a Strong Relationship With Your Mentor

It’s important to stay in touch with your mentor on a regular basis. Schedule meetings to go over your latest questions or accomplishments to learn as much as you can from your mentor. Listen carefully to their advice when you’re together so you can act on their suggestions later on and increase your skills.

Like any relationship, it’s good to keep in mind that this should not be a one-way partnership. Think about your current skill set and what you could offer your professional mentor to make you a better team. They’ll appreciate your dedication and extra effort, too.

Enhance Your Skills and Build Your Business at Farm Bureau

Mentors are essential to climbing the professional ladder, and when you start at Farm Bureau Financial Services, you’ll have an Agency Manager who will be there to guide you from the start. If you’re ready to jump into a new professional opportunity with a mentor and a team that supports you, consider becoming a Farm Bureau agent! Our Agent Development Program will get you started on the right foot.

We’re currently offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus for agents that earn their Series 6 and 63 licenses during the program or already have their Series 6 and 63 when they contract with our team. Join the Farm Bureau team, and click “Get Started” today!